Belt or collar with runner track

ABSTRACT

In a belt-type toy or collar, adapted to encompass a wearer, the belt has a circumferential track at its outer side which retains a slide member therein adapted to be connected to a ball or other object by an elongated flexible connecting member, the slide member is adapted to move in the track to permit relative circumferential movement of the object with respect to the wearer and the belt may include a chordally extending elastic member fixed at each end to an interior portion of the belt to accommodate various sized wearers.

United States Patent 1191 [111 3,721,216 Lippe et a1. 1March 20, 1973[54] BELT OR COLLAR WITH RUNNER 2,999,333 9 1961 Clark ..46/47 TRACK2,356,715 8/1944 Webster ..119/109 2,485,064 10/1949 Pacla an ..46/47[761 lnventofSI Joan PP 303 Pnce 2,974,439 3/1961 Fawic 1 ..46/47 xStreet, Lmden, Irvmg Gold- 3,004,519 10/1961 Weissman ..119/96 farb,8101 Glenwood Road, 3,006,645 10/1961 Frazier ..119/96 X Brooklyn, N.Y.;Harry Jablon, 602 3,098,316 7/1963 McCarthy ..46/47 x Birchwood Road,Linden, NJ. 3,167,881 2/ 1965 Mazzadra ..46/47 [22] Filed: April 1970Primary Examiner-Louis G. Mancene [21] Appl. No.: 27,486 AssistantExaminerD. L. Weinhold Attorney-Lewis H. Eslinger, Alvin Sinderbrand andRelated US. Application Data Curtis, Mon-is and Safford [63]Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 832,400, June 11,

1969, abandoned. [57 ABSTRACT In a belt-type toy or collar, adapted toencompass a [52] US. Cl ..119/106, 46/47, 273/DIG. l9, wearer the be hasa circumferential track at its outer Int Cl ggigg side which retains aslide member therein adapted to o o o o o o o 6 u. o o o o o o o o u aan [58] g fig gb"53 53 :8 flexible connecting member, the slide memberis adapted to move in the track to permit relative cir- ID cumferentialmovement of the object with respect to 56 R f d the wearer and the beltmay include a chordally ex- 1 e erences tending elastic member fixed ateach end to an interi- UNITED STATES PATENTS or portion of the belt toaccommodate various sized wearers. 946,656 1/1910 Cole .....2/3381,321,843 11/1919 Parkhill ..2/338 8 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEUMAR 2 01973 SHEET 10F 3 ATTORNEY SHEET 30F 3 PATENTEUHARZO 197a FIG. 8.

INVENTORS JOAN N. LIPPE IRVING GOLDFARB HARRY JABLON ATTORNEY BELT ORCOLLAR WITH RUNNER TRACK This application is a continuation-in-part ofour copending United States Patent Application, Ser. No. 832,400, nowabandoned, filed June I l, 1969, the disclosure of which is incorporatedherein by reference.

This invention relates generally-to belt-type toys or collars, and moreparticularly to belts of the type which are flexibly connected to anobject to permit relative movement between the wearer and the object.

Toys have been proposed in which a one-piece annular member or ring isadapted to surround a body portion, for example, the leg of the wearer,and is flexibly connected, as by a rope or plastic leash extending froma fixed location on the ring, to an object, such as a ball, whereby theball may be spun about the leg in response to gyrations of the legwithin the ring. In this type of toy, the ring is moved about the bodyportion in conjunction with the ball, thereby making movement of theball in the desired circular path substantially difficult.

In a similar application, dog collars are generally connected at onepoint thereon to a leash adapted to be held by a handler or attached toa fixed object so that the collar must slide on the dogs neck for thedog to turn in the collar. When the collar is so tight that it cannotslide about the dogs neck, the animals movements are severely restrictedand there is danger or chocking or asphyxiating the dog by entanglementof the leash about the dog's neck as he moves his head.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to permitindependent movement of the wearer of a belt or collar and an object towhich the belt is connected.

Another object of the invention is to flexibly connect a bodyencompassing belt or ring with a toy or other object to permit movementof the toy or object in response to body gyrations of the wearer.

A further object of the invention is to provide a belt of the characterdescribed which is adapted to encompass a variety of sizes of wearers.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a belt of thecharacter described which is both economical and simple in construction.

In accordance with an aspect of this invention a belt having acircumferential track of generally channel shaped cross-sectionextending from its outer side includes at least two free end portionsand releasable connecting means adjacent these two free ends forfastening the belt about the waist of a wearer. A slide member isretained within the track and is adapted to be connected to an object orthe slide member of another belt, by a flexible connecting member suchas a chain or plastic strap. In one embodiment, a ball is attached tothe free end of the flexible connecting member and body gyrations of thewearer create centrifugal forces which move the ball outwardly from thewearer to the full extent of the connecting member and angular forces tomove the ball in a circumferential path about the wearer as the slidemember is correspondingly moved in the circumferential track. The beltis also provide with an elastic member fixed at each end to interiorpoints on the belt to extend chordally therein for accommodatingdifferent sized wearers and to hold the belt in a relatively fixedposition against the wearer while the slide member moves in relationthereto.

In another application, the belt serves as a collar for a dog and theslide member is flexibly connected to a leash to provide an increaseddegree of freedom for the dog in relation to his handler or the objectto which the leash is attached.

It is also contemplated that the belt of the present invention may beused to produce a challenging and exciting innovation in the dancingart. Since much of modern dancing involves separation of the partnersdue to body movements and gyrations involved in dancing maneuvers, it isforeseen that two partners wearing belts constructed in accordance withthe present invention may be interconnected by a single flexible strapor chain to prevent excess straying of the partners and also tochallenge the skillfulness of the dancers to perform necessary movementswhile under the limited restraint of the connecting member.

In each of these uses of the invention, unnecessary entanglement withthe connecting means is avoided since the belt is maintained in a fixedposition relative to the body and the slide member is adapted to travelthe entire length of the circumferential track to enable the wearer torotate independently of the object to which he is connected.

The above, and other objects, features and advantages of this invention,will be apparent in the following detailed description of illustrativeembodiments of this invention which are to be read in connection withthe accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a belt or collar of a type inwhich the present invention may be employed;

FIG. 2 is a partial rear elevational view of the belt or collarillustrated in FIG. 1, but with a modification of the attachment of theflexible connecting member to the slide member;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the belt shown in FIGS. 1 and FIG. 4 is asectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view, similar to FIG. 4, but showing anotherembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of a releasable connecting mechanismadapted for use with the belt or collar of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a plan view similar to FIG. 3, but showing another embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a partial front elevational view of the belt illustrated inFIG. 7 as viewed in the direction of arrows 88 thereon; and

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and initially to FIGS. 1 and 3thereof, it will be seen that a belt or collar 10 of the type in whichthe present invention may be employed generally comprises a pair ofrelatively wide semi-cylindrical belt portions 11 and 12 joined at therear 13 and front 14 of the belt. Belt portions 11 and 12 are eachprovided with generally U-shaped semi-cylindrical channel members 22 and23 respectively which are somewhat narrower than sections 11 and 12 andform an annular track about belt 10 which, as more fully explainedhereinafter, is adapted to retain slide member 38 for flexibleconnection of the belt with an object or another person.

Belt portions 11 and 12 are pivotally interconnected at their ends and16, in the rear 13 of belt 10, by a hinge 17 which enables sections 11and 12 to be swung apart to provide an opening at the front 14 of thebelt through which the waist of a wearer may be inserted. Each half ofhinge 17 is attached to the respective end portions 15 and 16 of members11 and 12 in any conventional manner, as for example by eyelets 21,while the bight portions of channels 22 and 23 are attached to the hingeand to members 11 and 12 by flush head rivets 24 to provide an integraland stable belt structure. As seen in FIG. 2, the end portions 18 and 19of channels 22 and 23 respectively are disposed to one side of pivot pin20 of hinge 17 to avoid interference with the operation of the hinge.

The other end portions and 26 of sections 11 and 12, adjacent frontopening 14, are adapted to be interconnected by a second releasablehinge or latch 27 in abutting relation to close the belt and provide anuninterrupted track about the wearer in conjunction with channel members22 and 23. As seen in FIG. 1, hinge or latch 27 is provided with twocomplementary sections fixed respectively to ends 25 and 26 beneaththeir associated channel members 22 and 23 by eyelets 21 and flush headrivets 24 in the same manner as hinge 17.

The two halves of hinge or latch 27 have apertures 27' which are axiallyaligned with ends 25 and 26 of bands 11 and 12 are placed in abuttingrelation and these apertures are adapted to receive removable pins 28and 29 to hold ends 25 and 26 in this abutting relation. Pins 28 and 29are friction fit within hinge 17 but are readily removed therefrom toopen belt 10 at its front end 14 to provide for entrance or removal ofthe belt from about the wearer. To prevent inadvertent loss of pins 28and 29, they are respectively provided with eyelets 30 and 31 at theirfree ends for flexible connection by members 32 and 33 to eyelets 34 and35, respectively, which as seen in FIG. 1, are mounted on belt portion12. While members 32 and 33 are illustrated in the drawings as chains,it is contemplated that any conventional type of flexible connectingmembers may be used, such as, for example, plastic straps, leatherleashes, rope or the like.

When belt 10 is placed about a wearer in the above described manner,channels 22 and 23 which, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, include oppositelydirected spaced lip portions 36 and 37 are positioned in substantiallyend abutting relation to provide an uninterrupted track about thewearer. A generally flat slide member 38 (FIG. 3), is retained withinthe uninterrupted track by lip portions 36 and 37 and is adapted toslide throughout the track circumferentially about the wearer. A pin 39,which extends through the slot formed between lips 36 and 37 is attachedto or formed integrally with slide 28 and includes an eyelet portion 40adapted to be connected to flexible connecting member 42 through aswivel 41. As mentioned, the flexible connecting member 42, which isshown in the drawings as a chain, may be attached at its free end to aball or other object (not shown) so that the ball can be moved in acircular path about the body of the wearer in response to bodygyrations. In this case the gyrations of the wearer create centrifugaland angular forces which move the ball outwardly to the full extent offlexible connecting member 42 to tension the member and to pull slide 38through the track as the ball is moved in its circular path.Alternatively, belt 10 may be utilized as a dog collar wherein member 42constitutes a leash, so that the degree of movement permitted the animalis substantially increased by the slidable connection between the collarand the leash provided by member 38 while the animal is still preventedfrom straying.

In FIG. 1 there is illustrated a connecting member 43 which may be usedwith one of a pair of belts worn by respective dancers to provide anovel and challenging innovation to modern dancing. Member 43 comprisesa hook fixed to the-free end of the flexible connecting member 42 of abelt (not shown) .worn by one of the dancers and is readily engaged withthe eye 40 of slide member 38 on the belt worn by that dancers partnerto link the partners together. In this manner the dan cers are enabledto dance and gyrate about each other since the slide members 38 and 38in each of their respective belts will move within the track formed bychannels 22 and 23 all around the bodies of the respective dancers andyet the dancers will be limited as to the distance which they may moveapart.

To store chain 42 when the belt is not in use, an eyelet 47 may beprovided on its associated belt to engage and retain hook 43 and it iscontemplated that to enhance the appeal and appearance of such beltssome or all of the various chains thereon may be provided with charms orthe like, as for example, male and female symbols. Moreover, it is alsocontemplated that such belts may be made of or painted with aphosphorescent material to advantageously produce luminescent effectsduring dancing, particularly in dancing establishments catering to youngpeople which often utilize black light to produce psychedelicluminescent effects.

In each of the above described embodiments of the present invention,hinges 17 and 27 on channel members 22 and 23, and slide member 38 arepreferably made of metal, such as aluminum, whereas belt or collar 10 ismade of sheet fabric or plastic. However, it is contemplated that all ofthe elements may also be made of a plastic such' as polypropylene,polystyrene, fluoropolymers or the like and that connecting members 42may be formed as a leather leash, nylon rope or chord, plastic straps orthe like in lieu of the chains illustrated in the drawings.

FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention whereinband portions 11 and 12 are eliminated and the belt comprises channelshaped members 12', which may be formed in two parts as in thepreviously described embodiment, or alternatively, may be formed as aninterrupted annular member having only a front opening and made of aflexible material such that the belt can be opened at the front to fitaround the waist of a wearer. Slide member 38a used in this embodimentis provided with a curved rear portion 44 which permits rocking orswaying of the slide within the channel formed by lips 36 and 37 tominimize torsional deflection of the channel member during use of thedevice.

In order to maintain the front opening of belt 12' closed and thusmaintain the free ends of the belt in end abutting relation to providean uninterrupted track about the wearer, the belt, as seen in FIG. 6, isprovided with a latch 45 on the inner side thereof. Latch 45 includes astaple 4'7, fixed to one end 25 of channel 22 on the interior portionthereof, which overlaps the other end 26 of channel 22 when ends 25 and26 are placed in abutting relation. A hinged latch member 49 ispivotally mounted adjacent end 26 and is adapted to engage staple 47when opening 14 is closed and ends 25 and 26 are placed in abuttingrelation. A protruding dimple 46 on latch 49 is adapted to engage staple47 and serves to prevent inadvertent dislodgment or opening of the beltduring use of the device.

In FIG. 7 there is illustrated another embodiment of the presentinvention wherein a belt 50 is provided which is adapted to encompassthe waist of a wearer and which is provided with a slide member 70connected to a ball 52 adapted to be moved in a circular path about thewearer in response to body gyrations.

Belt 50 includes an inner annular belt portion 54 having a pair of freeends 55 and 56, which are adapted to be held in abutting relation byreleasable connecting clip 75, and a pair of generally L-shapedcircumferentially extending channel members 60 and 62 on the exteriorsurface of the belt, as seen in FIG. 8, which define a circumferentialtrack 68 thereon. Channel members 60 and 62 have oppositely extendinglip portions 64 and 66 respectively which define an annular slot 69therebetween about the periphery of the belt and when free ends 55 and56 of belt 54 are placed in end abutting relation the corresponding freeends of the track 68 formed by members 60 and 62 are also placed inabutting relation so that the slot 69 is substantially uninterruptedabout the periphery of the belt.

Slide member 76 corresponds substantially to member 38 of the priorembodiments and is an integral, generally T-shaped element positionedfor movement between members 60 and 62 and held there by lips 64 and 66.Stem portion 72 of slide 70 extends through slot 69 and is connected toa flexible member or string 74 which is attached at its free end 76 toball 52, so that, when the device is placed about a wearers waist, slide70 will move in the annular track 68 in response to body gyrations andball 52 will be caused to move in a generally circular path about thebody of the wearer. It is contemplated that in this embodiment of thepresent invention belt 50 will be formed of an integral molded plasticand that both the belt 50 and slide 70 will be formed of aself-lubricating plastic such as polytetra fluorethylene.

The free ends of track 68 are held in abutting relation by a releasableconnecting member 75 including a channel shaped member 76 havingoppositely extending lip portions 78, which as seen in FIG. 9, surroundthe flanges 65 provided by belt 54 on either side of members 60 and 62.One end 80 of member 75 is fixed to flanges 65 adjacent free end 56 ofbelt 50 by a pair of rivets 76 and its opposed end 82 is adapted toreceive flanges 65 of the belt adjacent free end 55 between lip members72 and to retain end 55 therein in abutting relation with end 56.

Releasable connecting member 75 is also provided with a flexible plate84 serving to lock ends 55 and 56 in abutting relation as shown in FIG.9. Plate 84 is fixed to member 76 by rivets 76 at one end 86 and at itsopposed end is provided with a pair of spaced lugs 88. Member 76 andflanges 65 of belt 50, adjacent end 55,

have pairs of apertures 92- and 94 respectively which are adapted to bealigned when ends 55 and 56 are placed in abutting relation with memberand thence to receive lugs 88 therein to maintain the relative positionsof the elements and to provide an uninterrupted track 68 about thewearer.

In order to accommodate various sized users with a fixed diameter belt50, an elastic member or strap is fixed at each of its ends 102 and 104,respectively, to the inside surface of inner annular belt portion 54.Member 100 thereby extends chordally within the annular belt and willsnugly engage the wearers waist during use of the device and preventrotation of the belt about the wearer. In addition, since elastic member100 will stretch, belt 50 will readily accommodate wearers of manydifferent sizes and thus only a single diameter belt may be producedwhich can thence be used by a large range of individuals.

Although illustrative embodiments of the invention have been describedherein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited to those preciseembodiments, and that various changes and modifications may be effectedtherein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope orspirit of this invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A belt-type toy or the like, of the character described, adapted tosurround a portion of a wearers body, comprising a generally annularbelt having thereon an outwardly extending track of generallychannel-shaped cross-section and outwardly extending flange membersprojecting beyond said track, said belt and said track thereon having atleast two free end portions defining an opening through which thewearers body portion is insertable within said belt, separate releasableconnecting means independent of said belt and mounted thereon adjacentsaid opening and exteriorly of said track for maintaining said ends insubstantially end abutting relation so that said track is uninterruptedabout the wearer, and slide means retained within said track and adaptedto move freely along the entire length thereof, said releasableconnecting means comprising a separate generally channel-shaped memberindependent of said track and having flange portions adapted to overlapsaid oppositely extending belt flange members, said channel member beingfixed to said belt adjacent one of said free end portions and extendinglongitudinally therebeyond, said channel member being adapted to receivesaid flange members of the belt adjacent the other of said free endportions, and means for holding said other free end portion within saidchannel member to maintain said free ends in substantially abuttingrelation.

2. A belt-type toy or the like as defined in claim 1, including achordally extending elastic member fixed at each end to the interior ofsaid belt whereby said device is adapted to fit closely about differentsized wearers.

3. A belt-type toy or the like as defined in'claim 1, wherein saidannular belt includes another pair of free end portionsopposite saidopening and hinge means mounted on said belt and pivotally connectingthe last mentioned free end portions to facilitate insertion of a bodyportion within said belt.

4. A belt-type toy or the like, of the characte described, adapted tosurround a portion of a wearers body, comprising a generally annularbelt having thereon an outwardly extending track of generallychannel-shaped cross-section and outwardly extending flange membersprojecting beyond said track, said belt and said track thereon having atleast two free end portions defining an opening through which thewearers body portion is insertable within said belt, separate releasableconnecting means independent of said belt and mounted thereon adjacentsaid opening and exteriorly of said track for maintaining said ends insubstantially end abutting relation so that said track is uninterruptedabout the wearer, and slide means retained within said track and adaptedto move freely along the entire length thereof, said releasableconnecting means comprising hinge means for interconnecting said freeend portions including at least one removable pin member operativelysecured to said belt.

5. A belt-type toy of the character described, comprising an annularbelt having at least two free end portions defining an opening throughwhich a portion of the user's body may be inserted and an outwardlyextending annular. track of generally channel shaped cross-sectionincluding a pair of inwardly directed lips extending substantiallyparallel to said belt and providing an annular slot therebetween, saidbelt being substantially wider than said track and providing a pair ofoppositely extending annular flange members adjacent said track, aseparate releasable connecting member independent of said belt fixed atone end to said belt adjacent one of said free end portions and having agenerally channel shaped cross section including inwardly directed lipsadapted to receive said flange members therebetween, said connectingmember having a free end extending beyond said one free end portion ofsaid belt whereby to receive the other free end 7 portion of said belt,means holding said free end portion in end abutting relation in saidconnecting member to provide a free and uninterrupted track about thewearer, said slide means retained within said track and extendingthrough said slot, said slide means being adapted to move in saiduninterrupted track in response to body movements of the wearer.

6. A belt-type toy according to claim 5, wherein said track comprises apair of oppositely directed generally L-shaped members formed integrallywith said belt, and providing said inwardly directed lips.

7. A belt-type toy according to claim 5, wherein said means for holdingsaid free end portions in end abutting relation comprises a flexibleplate member fixed to said connecting member and carrying pin meanslocated adjacent the free end of said connecting member, said other freeend portion of the belt and said connecting member each having openingstherein adapted to be located in alignment when said free end portionsare placed in end abutting relation within said connecting member, saidpin means being adapted to be inserted through said aligned openingstohold said end portions within said connecting member during bodymovements of the wearer.

8. A belt-type toy according to claim 7, including a chordally extendingelastic member fixed at each end to an interior portion of said annularbelt whereby said belt is adapted to fit closely about different sizedwearers.

1. A belt-type toy or the like, of the character described, adapted tosurround a portion of a wearer''s body, comprising a generally annularbelt having thereon an outwardly extending track of generallychannel-shaped cross-section and outwardly extending flange membersprojecting beyond said track, said belt and said track thereon having atleast two free end portions defining an opening through which thewearer''s body portion is insertable within said belt, separatereleasable connecting means independent of said belt and mounted thereonadjacent said opening and exteriorly of said track for maintaining saidends in substantially end abutting relation so that said track isuninterrupted about the wearer, and slide means retained within saidtrack and adapted to move freely along the entire length thereof, saidreleasable connecting means comprising a separate generallychannel-shaped member independent of said track and having flangeportions adapted to overlap said oppositely extending belt flangemembers, said channel member being fixed to said belt adjacent one ofsaid free end portions and extending longitudinally therebeyond, saidchannel member being adapted to receive said flange members of the beltadjacent the other of said free end portions, and means for holding saidother free end portion within said channel member to maintain said freeends in substantially abutting relation.
 2. A belt-type toy or the likeas defined in claim 1, including a chordally extending elastic memberfixed at each end to the interior of said belt whereby said device isadapted to fit closely about different sized wearers.
 3. A belt-type toyor the like as defined in claim 1, wherein said annular belt includesanother pair of free end portions opposite said opening and hinge meansmounted on said belt and pivotally connecting the last mentioned freeend portions to facilitate insertion of a body portion within said belt.4. A belt-type toy or the like, of the character described, adapted tosurround a portion of a wearer''s body, comprising a generally annularbelt having thereon an outwardly extending track of generallychannel-shaped cross-section and outwardly extending flange membersprojecting beyond said track, said belt and said track thereon having atleast two free end portions defining an opening through which thewearer''s body portion is insertable within said belt, separatereleasable connecting means independent of said belt and mounted thereonadjacent said opening and exteriorly of said track for maintaining saidends in substantially end abutting relation so that said track isuninterrupted about the wearer, and slide means retained within saidtrack and adapted to move freely along the entire length thereof, saidreleasable connecting means comprising hinge means for interconnectingsaid free end portions including at least one removable pin memberoperatively secured to said belt.
 5. A belt-type toy of the characterdescribed, comprising an annular belt having at least two free endportions defining an opening through which a portion of the user''s bodymay be inserted and an outwardly extending annular track of generallychannel shaped cross-section including a pair of inwardly directed lipsextending substantially parallel to said belt and providing an annularslot therebetween, said belt being substantially wider than said trackand providing a pair of oppositely extending annular flange membersadjacent said track, a separate releasable connecting member independentof said belt fixed at one end to said belt adjacent one of said free endportions and having a generally channel shaped cross section includinginwardly directed lips adapted to receive said flange memberstherebetween, said connecting member having a free end extending beyondsaid one free end portion of said belt whereby to receive the other freeend portion of said belt, means holding said free end portion in endabutting relation in said connecting member to provide a free anduninterrupted track about the wearer, said slide means retained withinsaid track and extending through said slot, said slide means beingadapted to move in said uninterrupted track in response to bodymovements of the wearer.
 6. A belt-type toy according to claim 5,wherein said track comprises a pair of oppositely directed generallyL-shaped members formed integrally with said belt, and providing saidinwardly directed lips.
 7. A belt-type toy according to claim 5, whereinsaid means for holding saId free end portions in end abutting relationcomprises a flexible plate member fixed to said connecting member andcarrying pin means located adjacent the free end of said connectingmember, said other free end portion of the belt and said connectingmember each having openings therein adapted to be located in alignmentwhen said free end portions are placed in end abutting relation withinsaid connecting member, said pin means being adapted to be insertedthrough said aligned openings to hold said end portions within saidconnecting member during body movements of the wearer.
 8. A belt-typetoy according to claim 7, including a chordally extending elastic memberfixed at each end to an interior portion of said annular belt wherebysaid belt is adapted to fit closely about different sized wearers.